Editorial: Not voting hurts El Paso

For the first time in eight years, both major parties have hotly contested presidential primary contests. Texas is the largest state holding a primary on March 1. Yet none of the presidential candidates campaigned in El Paso, the seventh most populous county in a critical state.

To understand why, you need only look at the voter turnout totals.

In the early voting period that ended Friday, 28,248 El Paso County residents had cast ballots, down from 34,886 in the 2012 presidential primary and 62,358 in 2008.

Only 7 percent of El Paso’s registered voters cast ballots in the early voting period, by far the lowest percentage among Texas’ 15 largest counties.

El Paso’s low turnout means that statewide and national candidates find it difficult to invest in seeking our votes. That money will be spent elsewhere. And El Paso continues to punch below its weight in Texas.

El Pasoans have one more chance to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries today, Election Day. Regardless of which candidates you support, casting a ballot also is a vote for El Paso.

Neighborhood polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible to vote or where to vote, call the El Paso County Elections Department at 546-2154.

In addition to presidential primary races, both parties have statewide candidates on their ballots. History shows that the winners of the statewide Republican Party will win the general election in November, and El Paso winners in the Democratic primary will win local offices in the fall. So the primary elections are crucial.

El Paso Democrats have several crucial races on the ballot. Republicans have few contested races for major local offices. Here are the El Paso Times editorial board recommendations on the key races in the Democratic primary:

District attorney – incumbent Jaime Esparza.

County tax assessor-collector – incumbent Ruben Gonzalez.

State Board of Education District 1 – Georgina Perez.

Texas House District 75 – incumbent Mary Gonzalez.

Texas House District 77 – Lina Ortega.

U.S. House District 23 – Pete Gallego.

8th Court of Appeals Place 3 – incumbent Steven Hughes.

In the U.S. House District 16 race, incumbent Rep. Beto O’Rourke is a clear choice. His opponent, Ben Mendoza, withdrew from the race after questions were raised about signatures on his nominating petition, but his name remains on the ballot and he has continued to campaign.

On the Republican ballot, the one contested race in El Paso is the U.S. House District 23 seat that covers part of eastern El Paso County. Incumbent Rep. Will Hurd is by far the best choice in this race.

This election is a chance to have a say on races from president to constable. Each decision to vote or not to vote also will impact El Paso’s future.

If you didn’t cast a ballot in the early voting period, please vote today.

Where Do I Vote? - El Paso County, TX Elections | El Paso County Elections Department